Machine for making plaited metal-foil capsules



0st. 15, 1935. o. .1. BRUUN MACHINEJ FOR MAKING PLAITED METAL FOILCAPSULES "Filed sept. 5,

'n n n n n n n n ey; @Trae/v51 Patented Oct'. 15, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT oFFI-CE MACHINE FOR MAKING PLAITED METAL- FOIL CAPSULES OttoJohannes Brunn, Copenhagen, Denmark Application September 5, 1933,Serial No. 688,261

17 Claims.

in which a matrix with a funnel-shaped orifice cooperates with a patrixencircled by a springactuated annular piston, or several such pistonsencircling each other, which in ,consequence of one of the said two mainmembers moving forward relatively to the other one, is or are pushedbackward by the orifice funnel of the matrix so as to move along thepatrix against an increasing spring pressure, at the same time as thecapsule blank situated between the end surfaces of the' pistons and theorifice funnel is pulled away below the piston or pistons by the patrix,and is compelled to enter together with the latter into the matrix. Inorder that the corrugations may be uniformly disposed it is common, insuch machines', to have the orifice funnel of the matrix fitted withcorrugations following the generatrices, and to provide correspondingcams on the end surface of the pistons, which are shaped so as to ttheorifice funnel, and similarly to provide such corrugations and cams onthe matrix and patrix themselves.

The heretofore known machines for making plaited capsule have, owing totheir unsuitable construction, been unable to satisfy the graduallyincreasing demandl for quick performance of the work on thin and cheapcapsule material and also the considerable height of capsule nowrequired after it has become common to use plaited capsules made fromthin .metal foil as ornamental capsules on bottles.

An important defect in the known machines is that the pistons have beenguided by telescoping tightly in one another, so that they have onlybeen able to perform a purely axial motion. Owing to the irregularitiesalways to be taken into account partly in the construction of themachine and the fastening of the tools and partly in the thickness andhardness of the capsule material, the above mentioned circumstance mayhave for its consequence that the blank will not be pinched with 'thesame force all around between the orifice funnel of the matrix and thepiston ends, so that the entire spring pressure resting on a piston maybe acting at one single point, where the blank then will be held andtherefore be torn, at the same time as the patrix pulls the blank awaybelow the remaining part of the piston.

By the machine according to the present invention the advantage isattained that a considerably thinner and therefore cheaper material thanheretofore can be used, and that the capsules of 'this material can bemade with a far greater height and with more numerous and more regularplaits than heretofore, while'at the same time .5 thespeed ofVmanufacture is greatly increased, Without any risk of tearing thecapsule blank, and according to the invention this advantage is attainedprincipally by the feature that during the entire process of manufacturethe forces acting 10- on the capsuleare caused to be elasticallyresilient to a far greater extent than heretofore known, and themachinery parts are made selfadjusting relatively to each other, as faras feasible in all directions. This result is. attained by l5 variousmutuallyy co-,operating arrangements, and for instance the annularspring-actuated piston or pistons encircling the patrix and one anotherare separted from the patrix and from one an-' other and from anysurrounding par-ts by a small 2 0 space and are suspended in such amanner that each of the pistons, in any position during the returnmotion along the patrix, independently of one anothercan perform a smalltilting motion relatively to the patrix, but with a tendency to 25'return to a normal position, in which the said piston is co-axial tothe said patrix.

Also the circumstance that the patrix in the known vmachines isabsolutely' rigidly mounted may cause difficulties on account ofirregularities 30 of the above mentioned nature, as even the slightestObliquity or an increased thickness of the capsule material at onesingle point'will cause the pressure between the matrix and patrix atthis point to be several times greater', whereby the 35 capsule may bedamaged. According to the inv vention this defect may be remedied bysupporting the'patrix in such a manner that the sameY can yieldresiliently to a relatively small pressure from any side. 40 Ordinarilythe capsule blank is stamped from a strip of metal foil by means of acircular knifey which is moved towards the strip and further on throughan accurately fitting circular and slightly aring hole in a support forthe strip, the said 45 support forming thus a knife flange adapted toco-operate with the circular knife. When according to the invention thepatrix is supported in such a manner that the same can yield resilientlyto pressures from the side, then the knife 50 flange which in this casecannot with certainty be centered relatively to the patrix must be madeadjustablen such a manner that it can be adjusted with absolute accuracyrelatively to the path of the circular knife. Also this circum- ,55

2 l l stance is taken into consideration by the machine according to theinvention. f

As a further supplement to the above mentioned special manner ofsupporting the annular pistons and the patrix, the desired elasticactu-A ation of the capsule material according to the invention may beincreased by fitting the machine with a special stamping device servingto corrugate or grain the capsule material in such a manner that thesame is caused to be ela-stically yielding in the direction of itsthickness. This graining or fluting which `in practice acts as anincrease in the thickness of the capsule material, can be performed insuch a manner, that the ma.- terial will be embossed with variousdecorative patterns with impressed trade marks and the like in relief.

The machine according to the invention operates so smoothly andregularly that the corrugations and cams of the matrix and patrix,without causing difficulties of any kind, can be made sloping or with ascalene cross-section, whereby the advantage is attained that themachine can produce metal-foil bottle capsules with sloping plaits,which capsules as it is well known are especially easy to apply tobottles, as such a capsule merely has Vto be exposed to acircumferential pressure in order to be caused to fit flrmly andpermanently about the bottle neck, independently of the shape of thelatter.

One construction of the invention is illustrated by way of example onthe drawing.

Fig. 1 shows an axial section of the matrix of a capsule-making machineand the front part of the corresponding patrix, and also the device forfeeding forward the strip of metal foil, Fig. 2 a corresponding'sectionof the patrix, illustrating an organizationv of spring devices forindependently controlling the inner and outer rings or pistons of themachine, I

Fig. 3 the patrix, viewed from the end facing the matrix. l

I (Fig. 1) is the matrix or matrix block with the matrix cavity 2, theorifice funnels 3 and 4, the discharge piston 5 and the circular knife6.

Together with the patrix 1 (Figs. 1 and 2) the annular pistons 8 and 8'are built into a casing 9, which supports the knife ange I 0 with theannular knife II.

The matrix and`the orice funnel thereof are fitted along thegeneratrices with corrugations I2, and the patrix and the end faces ofthe annular pistons, the taper of which is adjusted according to theorice funnel, are tted with corresponding cams I3, I4 and I4',respectively.

The patrix 1 is attached to the bottom of a casing 9, suitably to a basemember I 6 screwed to the bottom of the casing itself and fitted at thetop with a hole I1.for the bottom pin l8 of the patrix and, at thebottom, with a recess I9 for a nut20 at the end of the said pin. Inorder to enable the patrix to yield resiliently to lateral f pressures abuffer is provided, for instance in the shape of a rubber ring or someother elastic washer between the base member and the bottom of thecasing, or as shown in Fig. 2 in the shape of a, rubber ring 2I or thelike between the base member and the patrix, and in the latter case ahemispherical supporting block 22 is inserted'between the nut and thecorrespondingly hemispherical roof of the recess I9', and the hole I1 isthen made amply wide.

The annular pistons 8 and 8 encircling the patrix. are separated fromone another and, as far as the inner and outer pistons are concerned,also from the patrix 1 and, respectively, the casing 9 and the knifeflange I0 by a small space 23, 24 and 25 and 25', and each of thepistons is supported by three spring-actuated guide pins 28 and 28',respectively, (see Figs. 2 and 3) in such 5 a manner that the saidpistons, independently of one another can perform a small tilting motionrelatively to thepatrix, no matter how far back on the latter they mighthave been pushed by the orifice funnel of the matrix, as the guide pins10 serving to enable such a tilting motion of the pistons to take placeare sufiiciently loosely connected to the pistons, for instance in thefollowing manner. The top end of each of the guide pins is fitted with aneck 29 passing with a cer- 15 tain small play 30 through a hole in alug or flange 3l on the piston, and the connection between the saidparts is secured by a split pin 32 or the like, and a buffer spring 34is inserted between the rear side of the lug or ange 3| and the 20shoulder 33 on the guide pin, the said buffer spring maintainingthepistons lifted as high on the neck as permitted by the split pin 32.

Each of the guide pins 28, 28' is guided by passing through the bottomof the casing for the 25 patrix, and is threaded outside thereof and isfitted with a nut 36 (with check nut 31), or respectively 36' (and 31'),which nuts serve as adjusting screws for the adjustment of the pistons,

in such a manner that the end surfaces ofy the 30 guide pins 28'associated with the outer annular 35 piston 8 are controlled byindividual spring devices, wliile the guide pins 28 associated with theinner annular piston 8 are all controlled by a centrally disposed springdevice. Each of the said individual spring devices is constructed asfollows: 40

Behind each of the guide pins 28' a spring case 38 is provided, on thebottom of the patrix, for

a helical spring 39 resting against the end of the guide pin concernedand against a plug screw 49 inserted into the end of the spring case andserv- 45 ing also as an adjusting screw for regulating the compressionof the spring.

The centrally disposed spring device for controlling the inner piston isconstructed as follows:

On a pin 4I pointing towards the rear and 50 screwed firmly intoposition at the centre of the bottom wall of the patrix, a plate 42 isinserted, which serves as a support for the ends of the pins 28, and isonly loosely guided on the said pin 4I and between the rear side of thesaid plate and a 55 nut 43 at the end of the pin a powerful helicalspring 44 is inserted, which spring will then be tightened more andmoreythe farther the piston 8 is forced back by the matrix. Supposingthe pins 28 toLrest on the plate 42 at three points 60 forming theapexes of an equilateral triangle the centre of which is at the axis ofthe pin 4I, then it is seen that the entire spring pressure willdistributeitself with one third on each of the three guide pins. mittedthrough the above mentioned buffer f spring 34, which further Will haveto take up the increased pressure due to any tilting of the piston. Thenutl 43 serves as an adjustingv nut for regulating the compression ofthe helical'spring 44. 7

In the construction shown, the adjustability of. the annular kniferelatively to the path of the matrix, as required on account of thetilting of the patrix, is effected in the following manner: The knifeflange I0 is free to slide on the open 75 For each pin the pressure -istrans- 6,

end of the patrix casing 9, and is held in position along its peripheryby `means of three pointed screws 45,'which at the same time serve asadjusting screws, the adjustment being effected by loosening the knifeflange and placing the same around the matrix, which is then pushedoverv the patrix, whereby the annular knife comes into contact with thepatrix casing, and is then fixed into position there by means of thepointed screws.

For -the purpose of further securing the knife flange l in the positionthus fixed, there may be used screws 41 preferably fitted with washers46 and passing through amply large holes in the knife flange and screwedinto threaded holes in the end of the patrix casing. This arrangement,however, may also be used as an independent adjustment device for theknife iiange.

In connection with the devices mentioned above, and in order to providefurther security for a fully satisfactory operation, the machine isfitted, in the construction shown, with a combined feeding and stampingdevice for the metal foil strip, viz, two co-operating feed-rollers 48and 49 (see Fig. 1), one of which, the bottom rated bottom roller, insuch a manner that the' strip of foil, after having passed between therollers, will present a grained or corrugated surface correspondingexactly to the stamping pattern of the bottom roller.

Instead of having two annular pistons as shown on the drawing, themachine may be tted with merely one or with three of still more suchpistons, and instead of the patrix being stationary and the matrixmovable the matrix may be stationary and the patrix movable.

The arrangement shown is merely given by way of example, and may bereplaced by other ones for the same purpose, without vthe latter comingthereby outside of the scope of the invention'.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:- f

l. A machine for manufacturing plaited metalfoil capsules and the like,`compriisng a matrix having a funnel-shaped orifice, a patrix cooperatingtherewith, vand a spring-actuated annular piston encircling said patrixvand tiltable relatively thereto, the organization'being such that uponrelative movement of the matrix and patrix toward each other the saidfunnel-shaped orice will engage said piston and move the same along thepatrix against increasing spring tension.

2. Almachine for manufacturing plaited metalfoil capsules and the like,comprising a matrix having a funnel-shaped orifice, a patrix cooperatingtherewith, and a plurality of flexibly supported annular pistonsencircling said patrix, said pistons being spaced from each other andfrom the patrix thereby to permit tilting movement of the pistons, theorganization being such that upon relative movement of the matrix andpatrix toward each other the said funnelshaped orifice will engage saidpistons and moveI the same along the patrix against' increasing.

tension.

3. A machine for manufacturing plaited metalfoil capsules and the like,comprising a matrix having a funnel-shaped orince, a patrix coopiincreasing tension.

from .the patrix, therebyto permit independent tilting movement of thepistons, the organization-being such that upon relative movement of thematrix and patrix toward each other the said funnel-shaped orificewillengage said pis- `tons and move the-same along-the patrix againstincreasing. tension. 4. A machine for manufacturing plaited metalfoilcapsules and the like, comprising a matrix having a funnel-shapedorifice, a patrix cooperating therewith, a plurality of annular pistonsl5` encircling said patrix, and a plurality of springactuated guide pinsuniformly distributed about the patrix and iiexibly connected with saidpistons for supporting the same thereby to permit tilting movement ofthe pistons relatively to the patrix, the organization being such thatupon relative movement of the matrix and patrix toward each other thesaid funnel-shaped orifice willengage said pistons and move the samealong the patrix against increasing tension.

5. A machine for manufacturing plaited metalfoil capsules and the like,comprising a matrix having a funnel-shaped orifice, apatrix cooperatingtherewith, a casing for said patrix, a plurality of annular pistonsencircling said patrix, and a plurality of spring-actuated pins guidedthrough the bottom of said casing and flexibly connected with saidpistons for supporting the same thereby to permit tilting movement ofthe pistons relatively to the patrix, the organization being such thatupon relative movement of the matrix and patrix toward each other thesaid funnel-shaped orifice will engage said pistons and move the samealong-the patrix against 6. A machine as set forth in claim 5, andcharacterized by the provision of means outside of the patrix casing forindependently adjusting the tension on said guide pins.

7. A machine as set forth in claim. 5, the spring tension for the pinsbeing provided by helical springs supported in housing secured in saidpatrix casing in alinement with said pins.

8. A machine for manufacturing plaited metalfoil capsules and the like,comprising a matrix 50 having a funnel-shaped orifice, a patrixcooperating therewith, a casing for said patrix, a plurality of annularpistons encircling said patrix,

a set of spring-actuated pins for each of said pistons, said pins beingguided through the bottom of said casing and exibly connected with theirrespective pistons for supporting the same, all of thel pins of one setbeing mounted on a single plate, a supporting pin secured in the bottomof said casing and passing loosely through saidplate, and a helicalspring carried by said supporting pin and exerting tension on said plateto urge it toward the casing.

9. In a machine\of the character described, a

patrix casing, and a patrix elastically mounted relation with saidmatrix, a'knife ange carried by said patrix casing and forming anannular knife lfor cooperation with the knife of the ma-` trix, andthreaded screws carried in said casing and contacting with the peripheryof' said knife flange for adjusting the latter.

13. In a machine for manufacturing plaited metal-foil capsules and thelike, a matrix member and a patrix member mounted for relative movementwith respect to each other, said patrix member having an annular pistonsurrounding and spaced therefrom, and means for flexibly supporting saidannular piston for angular relative movement with respect to said patrixmember.

14. In a machine' for manufacturing" plaited capsules, matrix` andpatrix members mounted for relative movement with respect to each other,an annular piston surrounding said patrix member and spaced therefrom,means for flexibly supporting said annular piston independent of saidpatrix member, and means for exerting a resilient pressure on saidannular piston on relative movement of said matrix and patrix members.

15. In a machine for manufacturing plaited 5 capsules.. a matrix havinga funnel shaped orice, a. patrix cooperating therewith, a plurality ofannular pistons encircling said patrix, means for fiexibly supportingsaid annular pistons with respect to said patrix, and tension meansadapted 10 to resiliently press said annular pistons towards said matrixon relative movement of said patrix and matrix. i

16. In a machine for making plaited capsules, a matrix and a patrixmember, said patrix mem- 15 ber having a plurality of annularpressureapplying pistons encircling and spaced from the same, andexible., supporting means for said patrix and annular pistons, wherebysaid pistons and patrix member are adapted to assume angu- 2o lardispositions with respect to one another.

17. In a capsule-making mechanism, a matrix and a patrix mounted forrelative movement with respect to each other, an annular pressureapplying piston encircling and spaced from said 25 patrix, and flexiblemountings for said patrix and annular piston adapted to permitmisalignment of the patrix with respect to said annular piston.

- OTTO JOHANNES BRUUN.

